A student has successfully graduated despite giving birth to her son in the middle of her course.

Danielle Eccles from Llandudno Junction graduated with a BA (hons) in Management of Travel and Tourism.

She gave birth to her son Jenson last summer in the middle of her course. He was born with a number of medical conditions, so she had to juggle her degree studies with regular trips to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool.

Ms Eccles said: “The college helped me to complete my goals of finishing the course despite many personal issues.

”They offered as much support and guidance as they could and I am delighted to finally get my degree.”

The new mum was among more than 400 other students attending the graduation ceremony to celebrate completing their academic courses.

The achievements of degree, foundation degree, HND, HNC and postgraduate students from Grŵp Llandrillo Menai’s three colleges were celebrated at a ceremony in front of a full house of students, their families and friends on Friday at Venue Cymru marking the end of the academic year.

The Grŵp has around 1,200 higher education students studying on 40 different full and part-time routes, with more than 400 students graduating each year, many with first-class honours.

Pui Lik Ngan from Colwyn Bay, was a secondary school pupil in Hong Long before deciding to relocate to North Wales and study at Coleg Llandrillo.

He has now graduated with a BA (hons) in Management & Business.

He said: “I have really enjoyed my time studying at the college. The tutors have been exceptionally supportive; they have helped me get through the course. The facilities are excellent and hopefully my degree will help me get a job within in business.”

Dafydd Evans, CEO of Grŵp Llandrillo Menai, said: “This marks the twenty-fourth year of the graduation ceremony, an event which has grown considerably with the number of our Higher Education courses. The number of students has grown too, since Coleg Llandrillo merged with Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor in 2010 and again, with Coleg Menai in 2012, to form Grŵp Llandrillo Menai.”